20 July 2026
Debt Collection in Bulgaria
Our lawyers in Bulgaria can help you recover a debt. Contact us for details about the procedures for debt collection in Bulgaria.
Business owners who find themselves in need of pursuing overdue payments can commence a process of debt collection in Bulgaria. Our Bulgarian lawyers can represent you or your company if you need to take legal action for existing debts.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Applicable law | Civil Procedure Code |
Other specific regulations that apply (YES/NO) | Yes, EU regulations also apply to debt collection procedures in Bulgaria. |
Types of debts that can be chased in Bulgaria | Commercial and non-commercial debts |
| Availability of out-of-court procedures (YES/NO) | Yes, amicable debt recovery is an option in Bulgaria. |
| Court proceedings available (YES/NO) | Yes |
| Debt collection stages in Bulgaria | – contacting the debtor, – sending out dunning letters, – reaching an amicable agreement or filing a petition in court, depending on the outcome of the amicable procedure. |
| Court in charge of debt collection procedures | Regional courts (claims up to about EUR 13,000, and orders for payment) or district courts (higher claims) |
| Existence of a minimum claim for court proceedings (YES/NO) | The European Small Claims Procedure is available. |
| Duration of amicable debt recovery process in Bulgaria (approx.) | Amicable debt recovery can be settled in a matter of days when the parties reach a payment agreement. |
| Duration of debt recovery through court application (approx.) | 1 – 3 years |
| Duration of debt collection through the expedited procedure (approx.) | 2 – 3 months |
| Recognition of foreign court orders related to debt collection (YES/NO) | Yes, Bulgaria recognizes foreign court orders based on various international agreements. |
| Possibility to use the services of debt collection agencies/lawyers (YES/NO) | Yes, both options are available. |
| Debt collection services available (YES/NO) | Yes, you can rely on our lawyers in Bulgaria for support in debt collection. |
| Types of services provided by our Bulgarian lawyers | We can assist in both amicable and court proceedings. |
| Parties involved in debt recovery | The creditor and/or representative, and the debtor |
Availability of debtor protection measures (YES/NO) | Bankruptcy and insolvency regulations are available for companies. |
Options available for the creditor | The creditor can pursue a debt alone or with the help of a specialized service provider. |
| Conclusion of amicable debt collection | The amicable debt collection stage is completed once the debtor starts paying the first installment of the new arrangement scheme. |
| Pre-trial proceedings requirements | The amicable stage is a pre-trial step in debt recovery. |
| Steps in court proceedings | – complaint filing, – notification of the debtor, – evidence submission, – hearings, – ruling, – court order enforcement |
| Mandatory hearing stage in debt recovery through court (YES/NO) | Yes |
| Availability of mediation procedures (YES/NO) | Yes, mediation is available, especially in commercial debt collection. |
| Steps in small claims proceedings | Small claim procedures only require the creditor to submit evidence of the debt to obtain a decision. |
| Availability of appeal procedures (YES/NO) | Yes, appeals are possible in debt collection in Bulgaria. |
| Availability of seizure of assets measure (YES/NO) | Yes |
| Requirement for the creditor to appoint a representative (YES/NO) | No, however, it is recommended for faster resolution. |
| Availability of enforcement of foreign court orders (YES/NO) | Yes, foreign judgments can be enforced in Bulgaria after recognition. |
| Assistance in enforcement of court orders (YES/NO) | Yes, our lawyers in Bulgaria can offer support in such cases. |
| Fees related to debt recovery | – debt collector fees (if applicable), – court fees, – interest payments in accordance with the value of the claim |
What are the available types of debt recovery procedures in Bulgaria?
- amicable procedure, which can be completed with or without the intervention of a debt collection agency or a Bulgarian lawyer;
- court proceeding, which means filing a payment claim with a Bulgarian court of law.
What steps do I need to follow to collect a debt in Bulgaria?
- Contact the debtor and negotiate a new payment plan;
- Ask for specialized support if you cannot reach the debtor, or if the debtor refuses to cooperate (our law firm in Bulgaria can represent you);
- Once our law firm takes over the case, we will send the debtor dunning letters and propose new payment terms to reach an agreement;
- If this step also fails, you can start the court debt recovery process.
Here is also an infographic on this subject:
What does the amicable debt collection procedure in Bulgaria entail?
During this stage, the debtor is informed on various channels (usually email, phone, and traditional postal services) about the debt. If the debtor is cooperating, a new payment plan is established, a new contract is also signed, and instalment payments can be enabled.
Can I start a Bulgarian debt collection procedure myself?
Yes, however, most debtors fail to reply to the creditor, especially when the debt is older. This is why a debt collection agency, or even better, a lawyer, can present the case more formally. This is also the most successful debt collection strategy in Bulgaria.
Can I skip the amicable debt recovery procedure in Bulgaria?
Yes, this is possible in Bulgaria. However, the process is often more time and money-consuming. This is why amicable procedures have become popular in the past few years.
When can I use court proceedings to recover a debt in Bulgaria?
If the debtor still does not pay the debt after the amicable stage, court proceedings can be initiated by the creditor. For such claims, the Bulgarian legislation enables plaintiffs to use the so-called summary procedures.
Just like in other EU states, summary proceedings in debt collection cases in Bulgaria imply no court hearings, no verification of evidence from both parties and no expert opinions. The creditor is required to file the documents that attest to the debt. Based on these papers, the court will issue an enforcement order for the outstanding sum to be recovered.
Summary proceedings are completed in about 2 months and require the payment of a 2% fee from the total amount of the debt.
What is the Bulgarian court I need to file a payment claim with?
- regional courts, for claims of up to EUR 13,000;
- district courts, for claims above EUR 13,000.
Here is also a video on this subject:
What assets can be subject to enforcement in Bulgaria?
- movable goods and wages;
- income obtained from immovable property, rental income included;
- financial assets held in bank accounts and the person’s immovable property;
- provided that the person is involved in a business activity, his or her shares or bonds can also be subject to enforcement in Bulgaria;
- various items that are considered immovable or movable property (marital property included).
How long does debt collection take in Bulgaria?
- 1 or 2 months for an amicable procedure;
- 3 to 4 months for an uncontested court procedure;
- more than 1 year for a contested court procedure.
We invite those interested in finding out more information on the applicable law to contact our team of debt collection lawyers in Bulgaria, who can also represent local and foreign persons in front of a local court.